EXTERNALLY, the pundits have Port Adelaide at risk of "plateauing" after top-four finishes in the past two years. But Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley warns against under-estimating the power and ambition of youth at Alberton.

Port Adelaide will show a new look - and how far its next-generation players have developed during the pre-season - on Friday in the new season's first competitive hit-out against an AFL rival, Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium (2.30pm ACDT start).

Emerging ruckman Sam Hayes, 2021 first-round draftee Josh Sinn and highly motivated father-son recruit Jackson Mead will be among the tyros pressing to give the Port Adelaide line-up new dimension for the premiership-season opener against Brisbane next month.

"There is a lot of excitement around a lot of players we have (ready) to play," Hinkley said at Alberton on Thursday.

"I don't know how you could possibly (dismiss the upside of the Port Adelaide squad). I have total belief in this group. We are a good list, a mature list with good balance. We are in a pretty good spot.

"There is a lot of youth still coming through and still improving ... and I am equally excited about what they might be able to do. The growth in their football is something we look forward to seeing.

"There are 22-23-24-year-olds who are starting to come to that spot in their careers where they are comfortable with what they need to do to be successful and play the way they need (to command regular AFL selection). I could also roll off names like Ryan Burton, Riley Bonner, Dan Houston ... there are players who are going to make further improvement in their football."

A most notable example from last week's internal trial - and through all of the pre-season - is Sam Powell-Pepper. Now entering his sixth AFL season, the 2016 No. 18 draftee is understanding his moment has arrived.

"Sam has had a great pre-season and he knows exactly what he wants," said Hinkley of the 92-game midfielder-forward. "We are optimistic 'Pep' can provide some further growth in that midfield group - and the forward line. He is one of those 24-year-old players we are looking forward to seeing getter better.

"As a coach, you are always excited by the youth of the squad - and what they might be able to bring," adds Hinkley who has a reputation for backing talent rather than looking at birth certificates. "And I have also seen (experienced players) Travis Boak and Robbie Gray have great pre-seasons ...

"We're looking forward to that next group (behind senior players Boak, Gray and captain Tom Jonas) still improving their football. For three years, our intent has been to build the midfield. Willem Drew was a great example of that last year, but some of that growth was taken out of our control by injury (to Zak Butters, Connor Rozee, Xavier Duursma, Jackson Mead and Kane Farrell).

"We are building the midfield to be ready for when Travis Boak moves on ... and that might be 10 years the way he is going as the Tom Brady of the AFL."

The depth chart at Alberton - where Port Adelaide emphasised the "squad mentality" last season - has greater relevance this year when the AFL insists games will not be postponed if teams are struck down by positive COVID tests.

Hinkley says he has even greater belief in the depth of his squad today.

"You will need a really deep squad (this year) ... and we do have a deep squad, a group of players that we know can go right to the end of the list if we need to," Hinkley said.    

Port Adelaide will travel to rain-soaked south-east Queensland with 30 and a plan to play as many as 28.

"You take a couple just in case," explained Hinkley at a time when "emergency" players have greater significance. "And with the forecast saying there might be a bit of rain, we'll see when we get there.

"You just want an opportunity to play against some opposition and do something a bit different - and the conditions (humidity and rain) might make it a bit more challenging. It might be just a contest game where we get to work really hard on our contest."

The travelling squad is denied first-choice key forward Charlie Dixon (ankle), Orazio Fantasia (knee), North Melbourne recruit Trent Dumont (knee), forward-wingman Kane Farrell (knee), 2021 Rising Star nominee Miles Bergman (shoulder) and 2021 draftee Hugh Jackson (hips).

Port Adelaide's game in 2022 will change with younger players grasping opportunity to transform the midfield rotations - and the need to constantly find a new edge in a competition that punishes those who stand still. And there are the new interpretations from the AFL umpires, a point well noted in last Friday's internal trial in which five goals were scored following 50-metre penaltes.

"We play the three phases of the game (attack, midfield and defence) pretty well and consistently - and our pre-season would suggest we are still capable of doing that," Hinkley said. "It is no secret we are growing the midfield (rotations). There are adjustments there; adjustments in other positions.

"We will have a look at (those new postional assignments against Gold Coast) ... but it does not mean we are going full bore with those or we are going to change everything totally. Let's experiment a little bit tomorrow and fine tune the week after (against Adelaide at Richmond Oval)."

Port Adelaide returns to competitive football with the shadow of its exit from Season 2021 - a heavy preliminary final loss at home to the Western Bulldogs - still lingering, at least externally.

"They are enthusiastic and ready to play," said Hinkley of his squad's mood. "They are moving on to 2022 knowing what they have to do. This is a really good group of young players who have had a great pre-season; they have worked really hard - and they are ready to make a start they want to have to a new season. That is with a strong performace."

From the injury list, Hinkley reported he was optimistic Fantasia would resume full running drills in three-four weeks; and Dixon could be back to his running on Friday.

"We are not going to rush Orazio; we are going to make sure he is right," Hinkley said.

"Charlie is on track for round one. Once he is fit, we would pick him straight away. As long as he gets enough training - and right now he has a potential three weeks of training before him. He has not missed that much (during the off-season). He has a great base. He has to be fit ... he can't be playing partially fit because that sets him up for failure."

Hinkley starts his 10th season as a senior coach saying: "My biggest challenge is to stay in 'today' (while others question if he can take Port Adelaide to its first AFL grand final since 2007)."

"I will stay in 'today' and make sure we prepare as well as we possibly can for Gold Coast," Hinkley said. "Everyone in this game is driven by ultimate success - and that is what drives me and this club that believes in premierships. We set on in 2022 to win the premiership."